I don't own Dragon Ball Z.

A/N: that's the curse of writing for a multy-fan fandom. Too many fics updated and posted everyday, less chance of yours getting attention. *sigh*

The Quest for the Divine Dragon

Blah blah blah

Silver wear clattering against quality china, the Son family was well on its way for fifth dishes. Well, 3 quarters of it, anyway. The last quarter was having trouble finishing her first.

"Wow, Chichi! I think this is the first time we have leftovers!"

Goku said, patting his full belly and looking at the remaining delicates while licking his lips. Chichi sighed.

"Well, I was counting on Trunks's help finishing it off. But…"

She bit her lower lip and regretted saying that, as Goten's face fell.

"Cheer up, Goten. I'm sure Trunks didn't mean anything personal by leaving so suddenly."

Gohan said, trying to cheer his younger brother up.

"Yeah, Goten. Maybe he missed his own mom's cooking!"

Chichi's face twisted in a slight frown, when Goten's twisted with disgust.

"Dad, road-kill is better over Bulma's cooking."

His mother beamed proudly while his father and older brother could hardly contain their laughter.

"I heard that."

The three Saiyans looked at the woman standing at the door with terrified expressions. She, on the other hand, seemed pissed off, with her hands crossed in front of her.

"Who makes such horrible rumors about my cooking go around?"

Bulma said with as much playfulness as she could without showing her wounded pride. Chichi greeted her, and offered her the seat which was originally meant for Trunks.

"How are you, Bulma? Haven't seen you in a while!"

"I'm fine, Goku. Gohan, you look great!"

"Thanks, Bulma."

The now adult said with a smile.

"Goten… looking as mischievous as ever."

She winked at the 8 year old and he smiled back innocently.

"Don't let that smile fool you, Bulma. The only time he's a good boy is when he's tired."

Bulma laughed.

"Yeah… I know the feeling… Say, speaking of boys who are only angels in their sleep… Where's Trunks?"

Chichi almost dropped the dishes she was carrying to the sink. The other two males in the family looked at the youngest among them, who suddenly became interested in his shoes.

"Goten… where's my son?"

The boy gulped, then looked into the worried mother's eyes.

"Well, he was here until a while ago. We were going to eat, but then he said he wasn't hungry and that he was headed home."

Bulma's brows knitted together.

"This isn't like him… he loves your cooking, Chichi."

"Who doesn't?"

Goku sent a silly grin towards his wife, who repaid him be splashing him with soapy water.

"I better call home…"

She left to the living room, and the Son family huddled next to Goten.

"Goten, are you sure nothing happened with Trunks?"

"Was he feeling ok?"

"What did you eat for breakfast?"

Both mother and oldest son gave the head of the family odd looks. He shrugged.

"Maybe he just had an upset stomach."

The two shook their heads, and turned to the youngest in the house.

"Goten, think. Anything? Somewhere he could've gotten to?"

Goten scratched the back of his head, and shook his head.

"Nope. Nothing."

"Damnit."

Bulma came back, upset.

"What's wrong?"

"Dad didn't see him. He should've been home by now if he'd have flown there. Are you sure he said he was going home, Goten?"

He nodded. Bulma cursed and Chichi covered Goten's ears.

"Bulma!"

"Sorry. Vegeta's rubbing off on me, I guess."

Chichi gave her a sympathetic smile. Bulma ignored it, still worried.

"Then, if he's not here nor at home, where would he be?"

There was silence for a few minutes. Goku's attention was caught by a shadow creeping up behind Bulma. A shadow with a very familiar Ki signature.

"Woman… Where is my son?"

He didn't get to finish the sentence, as an explosion was heard from the woods.

"Guess we're about to find out."

"Hm. Now where did he go to?"

Vegeta walked through the forest, his hands charged with energy.

"Humph. Brat's faster than I thought."

Trunks breathed heavily and glanced at his father from one of the treetops. He was both relieved and shocked that his father couldn't pick up where his Ki was, even having repressed it some.

"Come out, come out wherever you are!"

Vegeta turned to where Trunks was, but the boy managed to hide just in time.

'He must really be mad at me, not being able to sense my Ki… But… nah, it can't be! What do I do, what do I do…'

The adult stopped, a smirk on his lips.

"You know, I recently caught this catchy tune…"

The boy's eyes widened as he was hit by another energy blast. He barely dodged it, it came so fast!

"… 'Boom goes the weasel.'"

Trunks stood up, clutching his right arm.

"Ouch. Should've seen that one coming."

"True. But you didn't."

The boy gritted his teeth.

"Dad. Why are you doing this?! What did I do?!"

The prince looked at him absentmindedly as he formed another energy ball.

"You didn't try enough. You're too weak. Kakarotto's brat can beat you."

"Can not, you saw it! I beat him at the tournament!"

"Luck. All luck."

A purple aura surrounded Trunks as he powered up slightly and flew, dodging the ball.

"Humph. Lucky shot."

"Can't it be you just missed?"

"Maybe. But don't expect it to happen again."

With a smirk only he could create, Vegeta flew at his son, fists first. Trunks tried his best to block and dodge, but his father had too much experience. Whenever he protected his face, Vegeta would hit his stomach. He went to protect the stomach, his father punched his face.

Trunks succeeded in blocking his father once, only to get kicked down to the hard ground.

"Pathetic. Like your mother."

Slowly rising to his feet, Trunks glared at the older Saiyan.

"What. Did. You. Say?"

Vegeta smirked as he felt his son's anger flare.

"You heard me, boy. Question is, what are you going to do about it?"

"Vegeta, wait!"

The hot tempered Saiyan did, in fact, stop, but not to abide Goku's request. He floated there, glaring at the forest below. Goku flew up to him and looked down as well.

"I don't like it. Too much energy… I can hardly sense them anymore…"

Vegeta's eyes darted from one point in the woods to another, and his frown deepened. Goku was caught by surprise when the more experienced fighter sent a small Ki blast forward, no obvious target. The result was unnerving, to say the least.

"It… bounced back…"

"Which means we can't go inside either."

"I guess… Hey, Vegeta!"

Despite his earlier statement, the Saiyan charged at the invisible blockade, getting hit and sent back. He glared at the air, and tried again. And again. And again.

"Vegeta, stop it!"

The Saiyan turned to shout something, but then his eyes went wide with wonder.

"Did you feel that?"

"Someone's powering up."

After a brief moment in which they pretty much just stared at each other, both Saiyan men powered up on their own, and now being Super, tried ramming the force that kept them away.

Trunks wouldn't cry out in pain. No matter how hurt he was, how broken his limbs were, how much blood he was spitting out.

"I'm impressed, boy. Although you can't fool me, I can feel your pain. It's all over your face."

Finding a minute of clarity beyond the pain, Trunks surprised Vegeta when he blocked his blow, breaking the man's rythem and landing a hit of his own, and a rather powerful one.

"That was nice. So the kitten can scratch."

Trunks breathed heavily and glared at his father.

"Why are you doing this?!"

Another smirk.

"I thought you were stronger. Guess I was wrong. What a disgrace."

He sent an energy ball at his son, one which was blocked and sent away.

"In coming!"

Floating a bit backwards, the doe evaded the sudden energy ball that came their way.

"Things are heating up."

As was Vegeta's temper.

"Final Flash!"

The field seemed to physically break as the attack came through it.

"Hurry up, Kakarotto! Let's go!"

"Nice. But don't think I'm impressed. Huh?"

True to his once arrogant nature, Vegeta missed Trunks's power-up, and the energy blast headed his way. And the physical attack that followed.

"Good, boy! Fight me! Or run back to your mother!"

As his anger rose, Trunks's hair began turning a unique shade of blond and his blue eyes- green.

"Oh, please! Don't make me power up too, boy!"

"Then do! Come on!"

Trunks knew he was still greatly outmatched, but for some reason, it almost seemed as though his father was holding back.

"Why waste my energy? BIG BANG ATTACK!"

Instant transmitting himself out of the way, Trunks sent a Final Flash at his father's back, the pain clouding him, making him use access energy. The result was pleasing… if it wasn't his father.

"Dad…"

Trunks powered down and kneeled next to his father. The man laid there, motionless.

"Dad, this isn't funny. Come on."

No response.

"Come on, I didn't hurt you that badly. I'm sorry, I'll train more, ok? Come on…"

Vegeta stirred.

"Phew, had me worried there, dad."

But when the man sat up, it wasn't Vegeta's face that were staring at him. Or trying to choke him. The touch, other than choking him, made a shiver go up Trunks's spine. And his energy go out of control, resulting in a huge blast.

Both mature Saiyan landed, the find the area rather demolished after the explosion.

"Wow."

"This isn't the time to be impressed, Kakarotto! We have to…"

At the pause, Goku looked back as Vegeta knelt next to a body. The prince checked for a pulse, and his entire body relaxed greatly.

"He's alive."

Goku smiled and began inspecting the area. He couldn't see any source of an attack.

"Can't see nothing… But there's a strong Ki here."

Vegeta seemed to hear yet not listen. Or care.

"Let's head back. He needs to be taken cared of."

Goku looked one last time around before flying off with a great feeling of unease.

~Yes, take care of him. We don't want him in bad shape for what we have in store for you…~

And the shadow crept back to the darkness from which it came…

A/N: @_@ weeeeeeeeeee.